Starting-crank for engines.



v.No.812',094. PATENTED FEB.'6,1-9Q6. y

T $2M @072 a Kiwi/h.

e. B. SELDEN, JR. STARTING CRANK FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.z/Am.

No. 812,094. PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

B. SELDEN, JR.

STARTING CRANK FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sra'rns PATENT orrron. GEORGE E. SELDEN, JR, OF ROCEIESTER, NEW YORK.

STARTING-CRANK FOR ENGINES- No. siaoeiil Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. c, 19cc.

Application filed-January 30.1905. serial No- 243,390.-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. SELDEN,

' Jr., a citizen-of the United States, residing at ment is fully described and illustrated in the following specificationand the accompanying drawmgs, the novel features thereof being specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

- In the. accompanying drawings, representmg my inlproved startingcrank, Figure 1 is a slde elevation, a portion of the crank-casing being shown in section. Fig. 2 repre- -'sents the crank detached, as seen from the inner end or from the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 3"is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4 1s a transverse section'on the line 4 4, Fig. 3, showing the roller-clutch. Fig. 5 represents the guidermg d'etached. 6 is an inverted View of the same. f

A is the crank-shaft, provided. with the crank B, and C is the starting-crank. In the accompanying drawings I have re resented my. 1mproved startin -crank as app ied toan engine which normal y-runs left-handed, or in .a direction. opposite to that taken by the handsxofa watch. Thestarting-crank carrice the clutch D, which causes the crankshaft to revolve in the normal direction when the starting-crank is turned, and the startlug-crank is provided with the roller or other clutch E, which through one or more levers F disengages the clutch D on a'sli ht reverse rotation of the crank-shaft by s ting the starting-crank lengthwise of the shaft, as indicated by the full and dotted'lines in F ig. 1. The starting-crank, the roller-clutch, the levers, and the ring or'collar M,'to' which they are pivoted, are. all detachable in one piece from the crank-shaft. The disk or plateI-Iis secured on the crank-shaftimmediately outside the crank-casin and revolves with the crank-shaft. The disk I-I maybe made in one piece with the member I of the clutch D,

which revolves with the crank-shaft, .being secured thereonbvthekey J, Fig. 3 or other suitable device :The: lever or levers .F. are ivoted at L to the 'supporting ring' M and earat their inner ends on the disk H and are connected at their: outer ends by a pin or pins N N with the outer member 0 of the roller or ratchet clutch E. 1

The inner member P of the clutch E is so cured to or made in one iece with the member I of the point-clutc' D, which engages with the opposite clutch memberI 'on the crank-shaft.

' Q, Figs. 3 and 4, representsthe rollers..'lo 5 cated in recesses cutwithinclined surfaces in the edge of the inner clutch member P. .-If

a roller-clutch be used, springs may bein-f serted to 'force the rollers along. in the re'.

cesses in any usual or preferred manner; but I have found in pract1cethat gravity alone 1s suflicient to insure the engagement of. the. clutch when a suflicient number of rollers are employed.

ner member P of the roller-clutch by the hub R or other suitable means, so that the:sta-rting crank, the inner member I, and the clutch member I revolve as one piece. The

outer member 0. of the roller-clutchE is a ring having a 'lain inner surface adapted to engage with .t e rollers Q'and held in lace laterally on the inner member P -b the'p ates S, Fig. 3, on one or both sides. n the con struction shown it is provided on one s de or on op osite sides, if two levers F be employe ,with the projecting ins .N N. These pins engage in notches in t e outer ends of.

the levers F, whereb the levers although permitted sufiicient connect the roller clutch with the su porting-ring M, so that it may be detache from the crank-shaft with the starting-crank and ihe starting-crank C is secured to the in-- eedom of movement the rollerclutch. ,The supporting-piece M is so connected with the casing K or the frame of the engine that it does. not revolve with the starting crank. In the constructionshown the ring M is rovided with a rojecting arm or in T, w ich engages wit a slot V in a brac ct U,'attached to'the frame or casing. The slot V is open at its outer end, so that the pin can be freely introduced there- .in or removed therefrom.

The operation of my improved safety starting-crank is as follows: The 'startingcrank and its connected parts bein applied to the'cranl shaft with the pin T of t e supporting-ring M inserted in the slot ",the two members I I of the clutch D are engaged together and the engine is started by turnin the starting-crank-in the usual manner. .I however, there should occur from premature ignition or other causea revcrse'rotationrof.

the crank-shaft, commonl known as backkick, which has frequent y caused severe injuries to the erator, the roller-clutch is en-' ge-ged by the ackward rotation of its inner member, and this motion carries the outer member with it, which causes the lever F, pivoted to the non-rotating su port M, to swing from the position indicate b the full lines in Fig. 1 to that approximate y shown by. the dotted lines, and the inner or cam- ,shaped end of the lever F, bearing a ainst the disk H, forces the startingcra' and its attachments outward lengt wise of the crank-shaft, so that the members of the.point-- clutch D are disengaged from each other, the pin T sliding in the slot V and the startingcrank remaining at rest without in'ury to the hand or arm of the operator even the back.- ward rotation should be prolonged through several revolutions.- For amount-of lateral shifting to disengage the starting-crank is exaggerated, said distance depending upon the length of the engaging surfaces of the point-clutch, which the constructor will proportion in accordance with the requirements of an particular case, the size of the engine, the equency with which it must be started, thenumber of engaging surfaces in the point clutch, and various other considerations. In my ownconstructions I have secured suflicient en aging surfaces in a point-clutch with two lifts, and the disengagement of the point-clutch when a reverse rotation of the crank-shaft of one-fiftieth 0f arevolution occurs, in which case there is not even a perceptible jar to the hand of the chauffeur, especially if the. handle of the starting-crank be covered with or made of rubber.

In'case it be desired to retain the startin crank permanently on the crankshaft a co lar or other suitable device W, Fig. 1, is employed on the end of the crank-shaft and a coiled spring K, Fig. 2, is inserted between the members of the point-clutch D in a suitable recess, or other suitable means may be employed tohold the starting-crank awa from the casing, so that the startin -clutc is disengaged and the starting-crank oes not revolve. In this case on starting the engine the operator presses the starting-crank inward, so as to engage the starting-clutch, the arm T sliding in the groove V. v

To facilitate the entrance of the arm T into the'slot V when the starting-crank has'beenremoved from the crank-shaft and is to be again used for starting the engine, I em loy the guide-ring Y, Figs. 5 and 6, instead 0 the slotted bracket U. This ring-is attached to the frame or casing by anysuitable su port Z and is provided with a notch or slot in which the pin T engages When crank is applied to the crankshaft and re- 6 5 volved with an inward pressure. The pin T a reverse rotation of the cran guidesw 'ch may extends over the of'the roller-clutch, which rotates freely within the cli facility. of"il1us tration in the accompanying. drawings the suitable portion of the frame when said crank-shaft the starting- ,bears against thii ring Y until, as it revolves, it'cemes opposite the slot and enters into it,

thereby permitting the engagement of the starting-clutch, after which the continued rotation of the starting-crank rotates the crankshaft, the-inner member of the rolle -clutch revolvingfreely within the outer member. It will be observed that there is no' wear whatever on the roller-clutch except at the time of -shaft.' M, Fi 3, represents one or more clips or be employed for the purpose of holding the. supporting-ring M in' properrelation with the starting-crankand roller clutch when detached from the crankshaft. This clip is fastened to the ring and edge of the outside member It will he understood that many changes'or alterations may be made in my improved starting-crank without departure from the constructive principles involved therein. Thus the disk H maybe stationary or the ends of the levers F may bear directly on a or on the casing, in which case, as the levers do not revolve with the crank-shaft, there will be a reduc' tion in the friction. Instead of the ins N N and the notches on the opposite si es of the outer'end of the lever to receive them a single pin ma be em loyed, entering a suitable I slot in the ever. 1 that the notch for the pin N permit the swinging movement of the lever on itspivot L. It has already been intimated that a single lever on one sideonly of the shaft may be employed, and while I prefer to use two levers the choice depends on the relative dimensions of the various parts, the length of the bearing of the startingcrank on the crank-shaft, and various other considerations. that the clutches may be inclosed in a suitable casing. A ratchet or other. suitable clutch may also be employedin place of the roller-clutchshown I claim-- -1. The combination of a crank-shaft, a starting-clutch member revolving therewith,

. a starting-crank provided'with a'clutch member corresponding to that on the shaft, a nonrotating support, a movable lever on the support for disengaging said clutch members revolves backward, and means arranged at right angles to. the axis of revolution to actuate said cam on said backward movement, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of a crankshaft, a startin -clutch memberrevolving therewith, a part to the crank-she t, a starting-crank provided with a clutch member corresponding to that on the shaft, a second clutch mounted onthe t will be noticed from Fig.

is cut away to It will also be understood ving a lanesurface at right angles -a disk, a starting-crank provided with a clutch membencorres ending to that on. the shaft,- and provided with a second clutch, and means 0 crating between said second clutch and said disk to disconnect the starting.

clutch members from each other, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. .The combination of a crank-shaft, a starting-crank, a startin -clutch memberrevolving with said crank-s aft, a movable part having a plane surface at right angles to-the crank shaft, an, oppositely acting clutch member carried by the starting-crank, and means located between said clutch members and the plane surface for disconnectingsaid clutch members on the reverse rotation of the crank-shaft, as and for the purposes set forth. 5. The combination of a crank-shaft, a starting-crank, a starting-clutch member-revolving with said crank-shaft,- a part having.

a plane surface at right anglestothe crankshaft, an o positely-acting clutchmember carried by t e starting-crank, a non-rotating support, and means operating between the clutch members and the plane surface to disconnect the clutch members on'the reverse Y rotation of the crank-shaft, as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination of a crank-shaft, a starting-crank, a starting-clutch member revolving with said crank-shaft, a part having a plane surface at right angles to the crankshaft, an o positely-acting clutch member carried .bytiie said starting-crank, a non-rotating support, a lever pivoted to said sup-- port and bearing at one end against said plane surface and connected at the other end with the clutch member on the starting-crank, as

and for the purposes set forth.-

7. The combination ofa crankshaft, a starting-crank, a starting-clutch member revolving with said' crankshaft,'a part having a plane surface at right angles tov said crankshaft; a clutch on the-starting-crank, said clutch comprising an inner member having a part adapted to engage. with the startingclutch member, and an outer member adapted to engage with the inner member on the reverse rotation of the crank-shaft, a non-r0- tating support, and means attached to the support and o erated by the outer member of said clutchi set forth a GEORGE B. SELDEN, JR. Witnesses:

GEORGE B. SELDEN, HENRY R. SELDEN.

or disconnecting the members of the starting-clutch, as and for the purposes 1 

